Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-03

and been compelled to seek refuge under
the protection of the power of this capt.
toll.
Now, l state that If the Senator from
Massachusetts, should come here himself
with declaration of that kind that the
people of Massachusetts, would not let
him reside IN the city in which he resides,
simply because he was a Republican, l
would not believe his sta ement; neither
will l believe the statement OF the man
whose memorial he presents.
When the matter came up in the COM
mittee on privileges and elections, having
had connection with that committee for
more than twelve years, and often seen
the attempts TO use it for political pur-
poses, 1 protested against the entertain
ment of the petition and against the reso-
luton. 1 protest against it in the name
of that committee with which have had
the honor to be connected for more than
twelve years, that it should be made the
dumping ground. for the complaints OF
every scalewag that chooses to come up
here and present the indictment against
his neighbors. l protest sgainst 1t be-
Cause it is derOgatory to that committee.
| say deliberately, in the face and IN the
presence OF the members of that commit
tee, that the entertainment OF such allie
cations is derogatory to the
committee which, is one of the Oldest
committees of this body. 1t
should not be made the vehicle for
the dissemination of SANDER and of lies,
too often against the people OF the states
of this Union. protest against the en-
tertainment of this resolution because it
is derogatory to the character Of this
high body that, upon the mere allegations
of scalawag who, upon the testimony
of Mr.. Giddings, is one of the worst men
in the state OF Texas, this honorable body
should be degraded by entertaining his
petition and instructing committee OF
this body on his petition, and in the face
of the telegram from Mr.. Giddings, and
in the face of the assertions of the Sena-
tor from Texas, to investigate his charges.
hope the unanimous voice OF the Senate
will set their seal of reprobation upon
any such attempt at making the commit
tee on privileges and elections, or the
Senate of the United States itself, a party
to the dissemination of such ISLANDERS
and outrageous charges upon the people of
Texas.
Mr.. Eustis of Louisiana made strong
speech IN opposition to the resolution,
from which we quote as follows:
Mr.. President, | am member of the
committee on privileges and elections,
and l will vote against the adoption of
this resolution | take it that when we
enter into an investigation it must be to
lay a basis for legislation. We have
nothing whatever to do with the condition
Of iEu iDo a. 70 uhath 10
community hangs people or whether the
community expels people from its midst
or harnesses and Expresses people. | do
not see that the Congress of the United
States has anything to do with reference
to those offenseS, admitting them to exist.
But if we desire to legislate upon given
subject, then, in order to render that
Legislation such as it ought to be, we may
inquire into those conditions and circum-
stances which should become the basis of
our proposed legislation. l do not under
stand the object of this inquiry to be to
pass any law in reference to these occur
rences. If that is not the object, what
can be the object The only other OBJ
ject can be to make political capital, to
wave the bloody shirt, and it seems to me
that this is little in advance of the usual
season, the presidential cleo lion, to in
dulee in any such performance.
l represent state where there have
been great many Investigations. re-
member the celebrated investigation in
the case of Eliza Pinkston, where was
charged much more horrible crime than
is described in this memorial. Remem-
Der how the Senate of the United States
undertook that investigation, and how an
attempt was successfully made to deceive
the American people. What was the con-
sequence? 1t resulted finally in univers-
al condemnation of any such proceeding
or practice by the Senate.
AS the Senator from Texas has well
stated, the courts of Texas are in session.
They have officers, they have grand ju-
ries, they have all the machinery which is
necessary to arrest, try and punish all
persons who violate the law of the state
of Texas. We have on the state books of
the United States all the laws that are
necessary to protect any voter at g Con-
gressional election. The laws of the
United States b istle with penalties.
They are severe laws. They refer to
every detail of conduct in any way posi-
bly, connected with any federal election.
And say that it would TAX the ingenuity
of Senator or lawyer to make one sin
gle addition to that volume of legislation
by which any new offense could be de-
nounced any stronger penalties could be
inflicted. You need no more information
than you have in reference to possible
outrages at elections in the south. You
have the history of every incident that
has occurred, and great deal that has
never occurred; and upon that, whatever
the truth or whatever the falsehood that |
has been gathered, has been prediceted |
the federal legislation with reference to |
national elections in the southern states. |
And, therefore, l consider this simply a !
to maze political capital and !
nothing else. 1t can have no other posi- |
Die effect except to represent to the |
lorthern people that Republicans are
being driven from southern communities
simply because they are Republicans.
The Senator from Texas has denied that
'uch is the fact with reference to that par
ocular community, as l would deny if the
;harge were made against any commu-
lity in the State of Louisiana that that is
he motive or the obj ct fer sny personal
injury that may be inflicted upon individ-
lals. That is not the cause OF these dis
and you have no more right to
harge these disturbances and outrages,
o called, to political motives than We
ave to charge to such motives what oc-
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